Robots

Once Christmas is over, the boys were faced with the time-honored challenge of deciding what to play with. They had plenty of new toys to keep their attention, so of course they decided they wanted to play with the boxes the toys had shipped in.

I cut out arm holes and a place for their heads and voila! the boys were robots.

Next year, they are just getting boxes...

Christmas Morning

Gabe and Gavin got so many wonderful gifts for Christmas this year. Here's a look at them opening. Merry Christmas to all of our family & friends!!

Handwritten

 

We're leaving out milk and homemade cookies for Santa, and a few carrots for the reindeer. But the impressive part is what the boys did. Gabe wrote the note on the left saying "FOR SANTA" and Gavin wrote the note on the right...(with little or no help) saying "ReiNDeeR FOOD". Pretty impressive. I'm sure 'Santa' will be as proud as Mommy is!

Perspective

 

 

This is something new, the boys doing headstands against the wall. They were getting really silly right before Christmas, so along with playing guitars, singing Beatles tunes, and flipping summersaults, they provided me with a little upside-down circus act as well. Isn't there a Christmas song about "laughing all the way"?!

Just Like the Story

 

For the past couple of years, the boys have gone to ride a holiday train ride based on the Chris Van Allsburg, Polar Express tale. It is a lovely experience, complete with: chocolate milk, gingerbread cookies, storytellers, community theater actors, winter regalia, Christmas lights, and a real museum quality, steam locomotive engine.
The boys jumped from seat to seat, peered out the windows, talked about the North Pole and really got into it. Gabe even talked to one of the cast members about her microphone and quizzed her about why she looked like Mrs. Claus but wasn't called Mrs. Claus? Both boys sang Christmas carols and danced and hopped in the aisles with the other children. Gavin was very shy when Santa first appeared, but Santa was so patient and Gavin did warm up for a photo. Ages 3 and 4 sure are exciting ages for Christmas-time festivities!

Performances

 

 

 

Gabe and Gavin's school hosted a Holiday Social this week. Both boys' classes prepared songs to perform and winter crafts to do. Gavin was a bit shy and Gabe's antlers kept sliding off, but otherwise, they both did a bang up job. They love their classmates and teachers so much and were so pleased to have us there to watch. Gavin's class performed Jingle Bells and Happy Holidays to You. Gabe's class performed The Reindeer Pokey and Frosty the Snowman. The parent paparazzi was in full effect for the miniature celebs. A fun time was had by all. {Both boys are located on the far left of their class photo, wearing red shirts}

Christmas Countdown

 

I took the boys to my teacher friend's house to make gingerbread houses this year. It's one Christmas tradition I don't think I've ever participated in, myself. They loved it and they actaully did a pretty impressive job of spreading snowy white icing, paving the candy driveway, creating licorice archways, and covering the small houses with every size and type of colorful candy imaginable.
The boys are SO ready for Christmas this year. 3 and 4 are fun ages for excitement about Santa, gift opening, tree trimming, wish lists, parades, and more. Only 18 days: 09 hours: 21 minutes: 58 seconds and Santa will be here!

Clown noses

 

We went to the children's Christmas parade downtown on Saturday and the boys had a blast. They got to ride Marta and although it was freezing cold, they both enjoyed front row seats for: balloons, clowns, princesses, local celebrities, marching bands, and more. It was so festive and they even caught a few treats thrown from the floats. The clown noses were a big hit for them and they helped keep their tiny noses from being so chilly!